$\"Tommy$ <\/a>

<\/a> Tommy Edwards<\/p><\/div>\n

So long, L\u2019il Tommy.<\/p>\n

Tommy Edwards, the iconic Chicago broadcaster who excelled as both an on-air personality and behind-scenes programmer, is signing off after an amazing 54 years in radio.<\/p>\n

Edwards, 70, announced Friday he\u2019s retiring as midday host at WJMK FM 104.3, <\/a>the CBS Radio classic hits station. Following a weeklong on-air celebration of his career, his last show on K-Hits will be September 12.<\/p>\n

\u201cTommy Edwards is synonymous with great radio,\u201d\u00a0Rod Zimmerman, senior vice president and market manager of CBS Radio Chicago, said in a statement. \u201cFew have enjoyed the depth and longevity of success he has experienced.\u00a0We\u2019ve been privileged in Chicago to have been entertained by Tommy for as long as we were.\u00a0All of us at K-Hits and CBS Radio wish him much happiness, and as he knows, the door will always be open.\u201d<\/p>\n

Edwards said in an interview that he\u2019d been thinking about retiring from radio \u201cfor a couple of years,\u201d but became more serious about it in recent months.<\/p>\n

$\"Tommy$ <\/a>

Tommy Edwards, 17, with first program director, Bob Barber, at WTOP in Topeka, Kansas (1961)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI do think it\u2019s time,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s something that I still think I can do well, something that I do enjoy, but there\u2019s just other things that I really want to do. . . . It\u2019s been 54 years of living in radio stations.\u201d<\/p>\n

His immediate plans include a driving trip around Lake Michigan and a visit to the Grand Canyon with his wife, Mary Lou. \u201cMy fourth grandchild is going to be baptized in two weeks so we\u2019re going to be going to California to be there for that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

One thing he\u2019s not giving up is his other job as public address announcer for the Chicago Bulls. He\u2019ll mark his 24th season with the team in October.<\/p>\n

Starting in 1960 as a 16-year-old high school sophomore at KTOP in his native Topeka, Kansas, Edwards fell in love with radio. \u201cI had my own show on a 250-watt station that could barely be heard over the grain elevators,\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n

While his career would encompass such major markets as New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Washington, D.C., Edwards was best known for his tenure in Chicago, starting as production director at WLS AM 890<\/a> in 1972. One year after he was hired, he was named program director of the legendary Top 40 powerhouse.<\/p>\n

$\"Larry$ <\/a>

Larry Lujack and Tommy Edwards<\/p><\/div>\n

It was as midday personality at WLS in the late '70s that Edwards forged a lasting bond with Larry Lujack, teaming up on the daily feature \u201cAnimal Stories\u201d as Old Uncle Lar\u2019s perpetually awestruck sidekick Li\u2019l Tommy. Their routine became the most famous comedy bit in Chicago radio history, and the five albums they produced raised more than $250,000 for children's charities.<\/p>\n

Edwards and Lujack reunited in 2003 at Real Oldies 1690, where Edwards doubled as morning co-host and program director. Lujack joined him from his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. \u201cWe had a great time,\u201d Edwards recalled of their three years there. \u201cIt sounded like he was right there in the studio with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lujack\u2019s death<\/a> last December figured into Edwards\u2019 decision to retire. \u201cQuite frankly, after losing a good friend, it makes you think about what\u2019s important in life,\u201d he said. \u201cMy family is real important to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Edwards, who previously hosted mornings on WJMK from 1987 to 1989, rejoined the station in 2011 when it took on its classic hits format.\u00a0While a search for his successor is underway, evening host Jeffrey T. Mason will fill in during middays and weekend host John Calhoun will fill in during evenings, according to program director Todd Cavanah.<\/p>\n

\u201cTommy is an unbelievable talent, and this station deserves the best in the business,\u201d he said. \u201cWe want to find somebody that knows the music and can relate to the at-work audience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Added Cavanah: \u201cAs sad as I am that Tommy is retiring from radio, I am so happy that we had the chance to work together and that he finished his unbelievable career on the air at K-Hits.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"